I swear, the older I get, the more I realize our grandparents knew what they were doing.
Not about everything, obviously. I enjoy air conditioning and grocery delivery far too much to pretend I want to go back to the good old days.
But when it came to money? They had some things figured out.
Our grandparents lived in a world where throwing something away because it was slightly inconvenient wasn’t normal. You fixed things. You used what you had. You ate the food in the refrigerator before buying more food. You didn’t pay somebody $8 to bring you a coffee that you could make at home for 50 cents.
And somehow we’ve reached a point where some of their completely normal habits sound downright revolutionary.
The funny thing is, I’ve noticed myself coming back around to a lot of these old fashioned money saving tips.
Part of that is having a big family. When you’re buying things for eight people, tiny expenses stop being tiny VERY quickly. An extra $5 here and $10 there doesn’t sound like much until you’re staring at your bank account wondering how on earth you spent THAT much money this month.
So I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the ways previous generations saved money.
Not all of these tips are glamorous. Some aren’t even particularly exciting.
But they work.
And if you’re trying to cut your expenses without feeling like you’re miserable every second of your life, I think Grandma and Grandpa might have a few things to teach us.
1. Use What You Have Before Buying More
This sounds ridiculously simple, but how often do we actually do it?
Before buying something, look around your house first.
This is especially true with food.
There have been plenty of times when I’ve looked in the refrigerator and thought, “We have NOTHING to eat.”
Except we did.
We had half a bag of potatoes, tortillas, some random vegetables, rice, pasta, beans, bread, peanut butter and seventeen condiments.
Apparently “nothing to eat” actually meant “nothing I immediately felt like making.”
Our grandparents were much better about looking at what they had and figuring something out.
Try doing that before your next grocery trip. You might be surprised by how many meals are already sitting in your kitchen.
2. Cook From Scratch More Often
You don’t have to start churning butter in the backyard.
Cooking from scratch can simply mean buying basic ingredients instead of paying someone else to do every step for you.
Pancake mix is convenient, but pancakes are basically pantry staples. Muffins are easy to make. Soup can be made from odds and ends. A giant pot of beans costs very little compared with many convenience meals.
The more steps someone else does for us, the more we’re usually paying.
You don’t have to make EVERYTHING from scratch.
Just start with the things that are easy enough that you don’t mind doing them.
3. Stop Wasting Leftovers
Our grandparents did not have a refrigerator full of tiny containers that everyone ignored until trash day.
At least that’s what I imagine.
Meanwhile, I have absolutely put leftovers in the refrigerator knowing full well nobody in this house was going to be excited about seeing them again.
One of the easiest ways to save money is simply to stop throwing food away.
Have a leftover night.
Turn leftover chicken into sandwiches. Turn vegetables into soup. Use leftover rice for fried rice. Freeze extra portions before everyone gets sick of eating them.
Food you already paid for should not routinely end up in the trash.
4. Hang Clothes to Dry
Your dryer is convenient, but it also uses electricity and slowly wears out your clothes.
You don’t necessarily have to hang every sock and towel on a clothesline.
Even air drying heavier items, delicate clothes or a few loads each week can reduce dryer use and help clothes last longer.
And there is something ridiculously satisfying about pulling sheets off a clothesline.
Maybe Grandma was onto something there.
5. Mend Clothes Instead of Tossing Them
A missing button shouldn’t mean the end of a perfectly good shirt.
Neither should a tiny hole.
Basic sewing skills can save a surprising amount of money, especially when you have kids who somehow manage to destroy the knees of pants approximately eleven minutes after putting them on.
Learn how to sew on a button, patch a hole and fix a simple seam.
You don’t need to become a seamstress.
You just need to keep perfectly usable clothes out of the trash.
6. Grow Something You Eat
You do NOT need a giant garden.
Honestly, gardening can become its own expensive hobby if you’re not careful.
But growing a few things you regularly use can make sense.
Herbs are a great example. You can spend several dollars on a tiny package at the grocery store, use three leaves and watch the rest turn into slime in your refrigerator.
A little basil or rosemary plant can keep producing instead.
Grandma’s giant vegetable garden isn’t required.
7. Learn to Fix Basic Things Yourself
Previous generations didn’t immediately replace everything that broke.
They tried to fix it first.
Today we have an even bigger advantage because you can find a tutorial for almost anything.
I’ve looked up how to fix things I didn’t even know the NAME of.
Obviously, know your limits. Electricity, major plumbing problems and anything dangerous may require a professional.
But a loose cabinet hinge?
A clogged drain?
A broken drawer?
Give yourself a chance to fix it before buying a replacement.
8. Save Before You Spend
Our grandparents understood sinking funds long before we gave them a fancy name.
Christmas comes every year.
Cars eventually need tires.
Appliances break.
Kids need clothes.
None of these things are actually surprises.
Setting aside a little money regularly for expenses you know are coming can prevent you from reaching for a credit card later.
9. Make Coffee at Home
I know.
Nobody wants me coming for their coffee.
And I’m not saying you can never buy a fancy coffee again.
But there is a HUGE difference between buying one occasionally because it’s a treat and spending $6 or $7 every morning because it has become part of your routine.
Make your everyday coffee at home.
Then when you do buy the ridiculously delicious coffee with whipped cream and enough sugar to qualify as dessert, it actually feels like a treat again.
10. Use Every Last Drop
Grandma was not throwing away a bottle with perfectly good shampoo hiding in the bottom.
Turn bottles upside down.
Cut open tubes.
Scrape the peanut butter jar.
Use the last little bit of lotion.
Add a splash of water to the soap bottle.
One bottle isn’t going to change your financial life, obviously.
But the habit behind it matters.
Use what you paid for.
11. Pack Food for Road Trips
This one can save a ridiculous amount of money, especially with kids.
Stopping at a gas station with six children is basically a financial emergency.
Everybody wants a drink.
Everybody wants a snack.
Somebody suddenly needs beef jerky that costs approximately the same amount as a small appliance.
Then someone else spots candy.
Pack the cooler.
Bring sandwiches, fruit, snacks and drinks.
You can still stop occasionally, but you won’t spend $60 every time somebody announces they’re hungry.
12. Buy Secondhand First
Our grandparents didn’t have the weird idea that everything needed to be brand new.
Furniture, children’s clothes, books, tools, sports equipment and toys can all be fantastic secondhand purchases.
And kids especially do not care whether you bought something new if they’re excited about it.
Some of the best things we’ve owned have come from thrift stores, Marketplace, yard sales or somebody else cleaning out their house.
Let somebody else pay full price.
13. Keep a Rag Bag
This might be the most stereotypically Grandma tip on this entire list.
Old towel?
Rag.
Stained T-shirt?
Rag.
Random sock whose partner disappeared into whatever alternate universe consumes socks?
Cleaning rag.
You don’t need to keep buying disposable cleaning wipes and paper towels for every mess.
Sometimes you need a good old fashioned rag.
14. Make Water Your Default Drink
Drinks quietly destroy grocery budgets.
Soda, juice, sports drinks, flavored waters and individual bottles add up FAST when an entire family is drinking them.
Water is cheap.
Make other drinks something you enjoy occasionally rather than something everyone expects with every meal.
15. Eat Before You Leave the House
There is something about leaving home that apparently convinces everyone they are starving.
We can eat an entire meal and 20 minutes later someone will announce from the backseat, “I’m hungry!”
Eating before you leave and bringing snacks can prevent an innocent afternoon of errands from turning into a $50 fast food run.
16. Take Care of What You Own
Our grandparents polished shoes, maintained tools, covered furniture and followed maintenance schedules because replacing things wasn’t the first option.
Take care of your stuff.
Change filters.
Clean appliances.
Rotate tires.
Wash things properly.
Store things correctly.
A little maintenance is usually cheaper than replacement.
17. Stop Shopping for Entertainment
This one is HARD because shopping has become entertainment.
We’re bored, so we wander through Target.
And somehow we leave $147 poorer with a candle, snacks, seasonal decorations and a basket we apparently desperately needed.
Find free ways to entertain yourself.
Go hiking. Visit the library. Go to the park. Play games. Watch a movie at home. Take the kids somewhere outdoors.
You don’t always need to spend money to have something to do.
18. Use the Library
The library might be one of the greatest money saving resources still available to us.
Books.
Movies.
Audiobooks.
Children’s programs.
Classes.
Internet access.
Activities.
And depending on your library system, sometimes even museum passes, games, tools and other resources.
Before you buy another book you’re going to read once, check the library.
19. Wear Clothes More Than Once
Obviously I’m not talking about underwear.
Please wash your underwear.
But jeans worn for a few hours don’t necessarily need to go straight into the laundry.
Neither does a sweatshirt.
Washing clothes less often saves water, detergent and electricity while helping clothes last longer.
20. Keep Simple Meals in Your Back Pocket
Not every dinner needs to be Pinterest worthy.
Some nights dinner can be beans and rice.
Or grilled cheese and soup.
Or pancakes.
Or baked potatoes.
Or pasta with whatever you have.
Cheap, boring meals have saved many a grocery budget.
You don’t need seven impressive dinners every week.
You need seven dinners.
21. Buy Ingredients That Can Become Multiple Meals
A highly specific ingredient that works in exactly one recipe isn’t always the best use of your grocery money.
Grandma’s pantry was full of basics for a reason.
Rice, oats, potatoes, flour, pasta, beans and other staples can turn into all kinds of meals.
The more ways you can use something, the less likely it is to die forgotten in the back of the pantry.
22. Learn the Difference Between Wanting Something and Needing It
Our grandparents generally had fewer things.
Not necessarily because they didn’t want more, but because buying something required more consideration.
We’ve lost some of that friction.
Now you can see something online at 10:14 p.m., tap a button and have it sitting on your porch tomorrow.
Give yourself a waiting period.
You may be amazed by how many things you desperately “need” on Tuesday that you completely forget about by Friday.
23. Save Containers You Can Actually Reuse
Keyword: actually.
Do not turn your kitchen into a plastic container museum.
But sturdy jars and containers can be useful for leftovers, pantry storage, crafts, screws, small toys and countless other things.
Reuse what makes sense.
Recycle or toss the rest.
Grandma saved things because they had another purpose, not because she needed 412 margarine tubs.
24. Make Gifts Instead of Automatically Buying Them
Homemade gifts can be wonderful when they’re thoughtful.
Bake something.
Make a photo album.
Create something with the kids.
Give someone a jar of their favorite homemade treat.
Offer your time or a service you know they’d appreciate.
A meaningful gift does not need an impressive price tag.
25. Use Cash for Problem Categories
There is something very different about physically watching your money disappear.
If you constantly overspend on restaurants, entertainment, clothing or another category, try using cash.
When the envelope is empty, you’re done.
It’s old fashioned because it works.
26. Stop Paying for Convenience You Don’t Actually Need
Convenience is wonderful.
I will happily pay for convenience when it genuinely makes my life easier.
But we pay convenience fees constantly without even noticing.
Precut produce.
Individual snack packs.
Delivery fees.
Prepared foods.
Single serving drinks.
Subscription services.
Sometimes the convenience is absolutely worth it.
Sometimes we’re paying three times as much to avoid two minutes of work.
Figure out which is which.
27. Make a Grocery List and Stick to It
Walking into a grocery store without a plan is dangerous.
Especially hungry.
Suddenly you’re buying fancy crackers, three kinds of cheese and a dessert you didn’t know existed five minutes ago.
Plan your meals.
Check your pantry.
Write your list.
Then try very hard not to let the bakery section emotionally manipulate you.
28. Have No-Spend Days
You don’t need to buy something every day.
That sounds obvious until you actually start paying attention.
A coffee here.
Amazon order there.
Lunch out.
Gas station drink.
Random app purchase.
Try deliberately having days when no money leaves your account at all.
It can be strangely satisfying.
29. Repurpose Food Before Throwing It Away
Overripe bananas become banana bread.
Stale bread becomes breadcrumbs or croutons.
Vegetable scraps can become broth.
Extra fruit can go into smoothies.
Leftover vegetables can go into soup.
Previous generations were masters at turning “almost trash” into another meal.
30. Borrow Things You’ll Only Use Once
Do you really need to own a specialty tool you’re going to use for 45 minutes?
Probably not.
Ask family, friends or neighbors.
Borrow the ladder.
Borrow the carpet cleaner.
Borrow the camping equipment before spending hundreds of dollars to discover you hate camping.
Not everything needs to live permanently in your garage.
31. Turn Off What You’re Not Using
Grandpa was onto something when he wandered around the house turning off lights behind everybody.
And yes, I understand him more with every passing year.
Turn off lights.
Adjust the thermostat.
Unplug things that make sense to unplug.
Don’t run half-empty loads unnecessarily.
You’re not going to become a millionaire because you turned off the kitchen light.
But again, it’s the mindset.
Don’t pay for things you’re not using.
32. Make Do Before You Upgrade
This may be one of the biggest differences between generations.
Something can be outdated and still work.
Your refrigerator doesn’t need to match the newest kitchen trend.
Your phone doesn’t need to be replaced every time a new version comes out.
Your furniture doesn’t need to look like somebody else’s Instagram feed.
If it works and you’re happy with it, keep using it.
33. Keep a Well-Stocked Pantry
A pantry full of useful basics makes it much easier to avoid takeout.
The goal isn’t to hoard six years of canned beans.
It’s to have enough basic food that “I forgot to grocery shop” doesn’t automatically become “I guess we’re ordering pizza.”
Keep ingredients for several easy emergency meals on hand.
Future you will be grateful.
34. Learn to Be Happy Staying Home
You don’t have to leave the house every weekend to have fun.
Some of my favorite family memories aren’t from expensive outings.
They’re movie nights.
Games.
Cooking something together.
Kids running around outside.
Random conversations that somehow become hilarious.
You can spend a fortune creating “experiences” and still miss the fact that ordinary life can be pretty great.
35. Don’t Replace Something Just Because It Looks Worn
There is a difference between worn out and worn.
A scratched table still works.
A faded towel still dries you.
A dented pan still cooks dinner.
A car with a few cosmetic imperfections can still get you where you’re going.
We’ve become incredibly quick to replace things because they no longer look new.
Grandma would probably tell us to get over it.
And Grandma would probably be right.
36. Learn a Few Basic Skills
Cooking.
Sewing.
Simple home repairs.
Basic car maintenance.
Haircuts.
Gardening.
Cleaning.
You don’t have to become an expert at everything.
But every skill you learn gives you one more thing you don’t always have to pay someone else to do.
37. Use Up Toiletries Before Opening New Ones
Why do bathrooms collect half-used bottles like they’re preparing for the apocalypse?
Finish the shampoo.
Use the lotion.
Empty the toothpaste.
Finish one product before opening another whenever possible.
It reduces waste AND clutter.
I consider that a double win.
38. Save Windfalls Instead of Immediately Spending Them
Tax refund?
Bonus?
Unexpected check?
Our first instinct is often to start mentally spending it before the money even arrives.
Try saving at least part of unexpected money.
Put it toward debt.
Build your emergency fund.
Set it aside for an upcoming expense.
You can still enjoy some of it without making the entire amount disappear.
39. Don’t Be Embarrassed to Be Frugal
I think this might be the biggest lesson of all.
Somewhere along the way, we started treating frugality like something embarrassing.
Bringing lunch from home isn’t embarrassing.
Buying used isn’t embarrassing.
Keeping an older car isn’t embarrassing.
Using coupons isn’t embarrassing.
Saying, “That’s not in my budget” isn’t embarrassing.
You know what’s better than LOOKING like you have money?
Actually having money.
Our grandparents weren’t trying to impress strangers on the internet.
Maybe there’s something worth reclaiming about that.
40. Remember That Small Savings Really Do Add Up
I know saving $3 doesn’t feel exciting.
Neither does saving $8.
Or $12.
And that’s why it’s so easy to say, “What’s the point?”
But that’s exactly how spending works too.
Nobody usually destroys their budget with one $4 purchase.
It’s $4 here.
$11 there.
$27 somewhere else.
Then another $8.
And suddenly hundreds of dollars disappeared.
Saving works the same way in reverse.
A few dollars at a time doesn’t feel life changing.
Until you’ve been doing it for months.
Old Fashioned Frugality Was Really About Resourcefulness
The biggest thing I’ve learned from old fashioned money saving advice is that it isn’t really about deprivation.
It’s about resourcefulness.
Use what you have.
Take care of your things.
Waste less.
Learn how to do things yourself.
Think before you buy.
Save when you can.
And stop assuming spending money is the solution to every inconvenience.
I don’t think we need to live exactly like our grandparents did. I’m certainly not giving up my washing machine, and nobody is taking grocery pickup away from me without a fight.
But I do think we’ve made life so convenient that sometimes we don’t even notice how much we’re paying for that convenience.
There is a happy middle ground.
We can keep the things that genuinely make modern life easier while bringing back some of the habits that helped previous generations stretch every dollar.
And maybe the next time something breaks, there are leftovers in the refrigerator or I’m tempted to buy something just because it’s on sale, I’ll hear a tiny imaginary Grandma voice in my head asking:
“Do you REALLY need that?”
And unfortunately, Grandma is usually right.